New horizons in snakebite envenoming therapy

Snakebite envenoming is a major and often overlooked global health problem. Each year, an estimated 1.8–2.7 million people are envenomed, leading to about 100,000 deaths and 400,000 survivors with permanent disabilities such as amputations or long-term tissue damage. In this talk, I will present recent progress toward a new generation of snakebite treatments based on recombinant, laboratory-engineered antibodies. I will describe how modern antibody discovery technologies can be used to identify molecules that broadly neutralize venom toxins and show improved protection in animal models compared to conventional plasma-derived antivenoms. I will conclude by discussing the key scientific, manufacturing, and translational challenges that must be addressed to move recombinant antivenoms from the laboratory into clinical practice.

Join us for this talk led by Professor Andreas Laustsen-Kiel where he will raise awareness of Snakebite as a Neglected Tropical Disease, and share how advances in biotechnology can be translated from the laboratory to clinical practice across multiple technology readiness levels.

Target Audience: Interdisciplinary scientists and clinicians across health.

This event is sponsored by the Health Spotlight and Warwick International Partnership Fund.

When: Monday 30 March 2026

Time: 11.00am-12.00pm

Location: MD0.01, Medical Teaching Centre, Gibbet Hill Campus

This event is free to attend, please register for catering purposes.

Prof. Andreas Laustsen‑Kiel is a leading biotechnology researcher and Professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where he heads the Section for Biologics Engineering. His work focuses on antibody technologies, toxinology, and the development of recombinant antivenoms, including pioneering the first human monoclonal antibodies against snake toxins.

As a prolific scientist and entrepreneur, he has co‑founded multiple biotech companies such as Biosyntia, VenomAb, Antag Therapeutics, Chromologics, Bactolife, VenomAid Diagnostics, Agrobiomics, Combotope Therapeutics and Y-king Biologics. Collectively, these ventures employ over 120 researchers and contribute to innovation across biotherapeutics, diagnostics, and microbial engineering. He has (co-)raised over $300 million USD for research and entrepreneurship, was listed on Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017, and was a Top 35 Innovator under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2017.

Prof. Laustsen‑Kiel holds an MScEng from DTU and a PhD from the University of Copenhagen, and recently a higher Doctorate (dr.techn.) from DTU. His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including Denmark’s Elite Research Prize (2025), the Lundbeck Young Investigator Prize (2024), and the Royal Danish Academy’s Silver Medal (2023).